Professor Muhammad Yunus is one of the most influential social entrepreneurs in history. He is the founder of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, which pioneered the concept of microcredit — providing tiny loans to the very poorest people, predominantly women, to help them start businesses and escape poverty.
For this revolutionary work, Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, sharing it with Grameen Bank. The Nobel Committee recognised that lasting peace cannot be achieved unless large population groups find ways in which to break out of poverty.
His model of microfinance has been replicated in over 100 countries worldwide, lifting millions of families out of poverty. He has also developed the concept of social business — enterprises designed to solve social problems rather than maximise profit — which has inspired a generation of social entrepreneurs worldwide.